3 jump Shepard ship after Filner summit

The political strategist says he has ended involvement with mayor

Three top executives at the political consulting firm that worked for embattled San Diego Mayor Bob Filner resigned on Thursday to pursue unspecified other projects.

The resignations from Public Policy Strategies appear to have some connection to Filner's burgeoning sexual harassment scandal, although it was not clear what the connection was.

"I am disappointed by the resignations," Shepard said in a statement late Thursday. "They come on the heels of my announcement to staff on Monday that I had severed my involvement with Bob Filner."

The resignations came one day after U-T Watchdog reported that Shepard met with the administration of the scandal-ridden mayor on Sunday.

Sign-in logs obtained by the Watchdog showed Filner’s top level government officials filed into the mayor’s suite at City Hall on Sunday — one day before the announcement that communications director Irene McCormack Jackson had sued, claiming months of sexual harassment at the hands of the mayor.

Shepard was there, too, from 12:50 p.m. to 2:40 p.m., according to the log.

One of those to announce her departure from the firm was Rachel Laing, former press secretary to former Mayor Jerry Sanders. She had been working for Public Policy Strategies on Wednesday, when the Watchdog called the firm to ask about the Sunday meeting.

On Thursday afternoon, she sent out an email with the subject line “new chapter” saying that “yesterday was my last day at PPS.”

“I'm going to pursue a business project while contracting with a few strategic communications clients. I'll update you soon,” Laing wrote.

Firm president Phil Rath and vice president Kimberly Hale also have left, according to NBC 7 San Diego.

"This note is to inform you that the time has come for me to move on to new opportunities in my career. I have left Public Policy Strategies effective immediately,” Rath said in that report. “I am considering my options, but I know that I love this business and enjoy serving my clients. I'm very excited about my future and will announce my plans shortly."

Shepard is a veteran Republican political consultant who helped lead Filner to victory on Election Day last year. His statement did not address why or how he severed his involvement with Filner.

Shepard has helped elect three of the past five mayors. He also ran the successful campaigns for the construction and expansion of the San Diego Convention Center, development of Petco Park and the city’s strong mayor form of government.

Before signing on with Filner, Shepard was an adviser to Republican-turned-independent Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher’s unsuccessful bid for mayor in the June primary. Since that race, Fletcher has become a Democrat.

The gathering on Sunday afternoon at City Hall came three days after McCormack Jackson filed a complaint with the state, seeking the right to sue Filner and the city. The complaint was sent to Filner and City Attorney Jan Goldsmith.

Showing up at Filner’s office Sunday afternoon in addition to Shepard were Chief of Staff Tony Buckles and legal affairs director Lee Burdick, who would replace Buckles three days later at the head of Filner’s administration.

Document

Also in the mayor’s suite, according to sign-in sheets obtained by U-T Watchdog, were Francisco Estrada, director of council affairs and Nelson Hernandez, assistant chief operating officer.

Murtaza Baxamusa, a longtime labor and working persons advocate, was also at the meeting. Baxamusa is listed in the city’s internal directory as special adviser for public policy, but said on Twitter that it's a volunteer position.